Vancouver Centre Contact Details

Local Teachers

Leigh Badgley

Leigh Badgley has been teaching Transcendental Meditation in the United States and Canada since 1993. As a filmmaker, TV producer and writer, Leigh's passion is to share how the regular practice of TM can ignite a person's creativity no matter what the medium. In addition to teaching TM and making films, Leigh is a part-time faculty member of the David Lynch M.A. in Film programme in Fairfield, Iowa, where meditation is the foundation for all creative processes.

Chelsea McCooey

Chelsea McCooey is a third generation TM practitioner and a second generation Certified Teacher of the technique. She has past experience in hospitality, childcare and marketing. Knowing she wanted to making a positive change in the world, she studied Peace and Conflict Studies and moved onto earning a degree in Political Science in 2009. She thought she would make change by becoming a politician or lawyer, but instead, due to the deepening of her meditation practice and connection with herself, she became a certified teacher of the Transcendental Meditation program. Nothing has brought her more bliss than the gift of teaching others to transcend (go beyond) thought to find the sweet peace we all have within.

Angela Absalom

This summer, Angela Absalom decided to return to teaching Transcendental Meditation. Angela started meditating in May 1975 and became a TM Teacher in January 1976. She taught for 2 years in Scarborough and Whitby, North Yorkshire, England. Angela moved to Vancouver 1980, where she raised 2 daughters. She worked as registered nurse at several Vancouver hospitals, ending up at B.C. Women's. She still works there part time, even though she's retired. Her hobbies include dance, playing fiddle, singing, and spending time in Nature.

Prince Pabbies

Prince Pabbies was born and raised in India. He immigrated to Canada after graduating from university in 1968. He started practicing Transcendental Meditation in 1974 and also started a profession as a Real Estate Agent in the province of British Columbia. Prince travelled to a few countries participating in various TM advanced programs & also in World Peace Creating Assemblies. In the year of 2005, he retired from the Real Estate business and became a Certified Teacher of Transcendental Meditation.

Now, he enjoys working on various TM activities on a full time basis, including teaching the technique of Transcendental Meditation in the city of Vancouver.

Sheila Elliott

Sheila Elliott learned Transcendental Meditation in 1976 and has been meditating regularly ever since. Upon her retirement from a successful career in adult education Sheila decided to embark on a second career as a teacher of TM. She completed her training in 2000 and has been actively involved in TM in the Vancouver area since then. Sheila was the chairperson the the Vancouver TM Centre for a few years. During that time she took part in special projects including bringing TM into schools and colleges in the lower mainland. She is now semi-retired but still an integral part of the Vancouver TM community.

When not involved in TM activities or enjoyable family times Sheila has a wide range of interests and hobbies including theatre, art, photography and baking. Life is never dull!

Mark McCooey

Mark McCooey has been a certified teacher of the Transcendental Meditation Program since July, 1978 and has taught TM to hundreds of people on a part time basis since then. Mark's full time occupation is as the President of SEI Industries Ltd, a company that is the world leader in helicopter applications for fighting forest fires. Combining 27 years of business experience with Maharishi's teachings of Transcendental Meditation, Mark knows first hand the value of TM in the world of business success and stress management. Always a popular speaker, Mark combines that practical real world experience with the subjective inner value of TM to bring special relevance to the learning experience of the student.

Rosemary Papetti

Rosemary Papetti has taught Transcendental Meditation (TM) since the early 70's in Canada, the United States and Italy. She trained with Maharishi overseas in Europe for many months and has attended training at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield as well.

She has enjoyed a multi-faceted career in the field of administration (IT, investor relations, accounting) but teaching TM has always been her highest/first calling.

Gloria Hansen

Gloria Hansen has been a Transcendental Meditation Teacher for 40 years and has been fortunate to be on many courses with Maharishi, including her TM Teacher Training Course in 1973.

Gloria became a TM Teacher because she wanted others to enjoy a fuller happier life and to help Maharishi fulfill his plan for World Peace.

Gloria has a Bachelors of Home Economics from the University of Manitoba and was honoured with a Doctorate in World Peace Studies. She has worked at the National TM office and taught TM full time in a number of cities in Canada. She is now living and teaching TM on Vancouver's North Shore. Her husband is also a TM Teacher and their daughter has been meditating since she was four.

Gloria is passionate about Art, Design, Film and is always up for new adventures.

Bruce Hansen

Bruce Hansen started TM in 1970 as a University student. In 1971 he had an opportunity to be with Maharishi for 1 month on a special course in California, and decided right then to become a Teacher of TM.

Bruce spent 7 months on a Teacher Training Course with Maharishi in Spain and Italy and has now been teaching since 1972.

Bruce has the great joy of being in a 'meditating family'. His wife Gloria is also a long time TM Teacher and their daughter has been meditating since 4 years of age.

They are all enjoying life and teaching TM in North Vancouver. Bruce has a passion for technical analysis and is a 10K runner.

Laurie Robyn Young

I learned Transcendental Meditation in the fall of 1971, after trying several meditation methods that didn't do much. TM worked very well the first time, and I felt better in days. I decided that Maharishi's Movement would be the place to pursue my development. After meditating for a year and a half, I became a Teacher of Transcendental Meditation in Spain in the Spring of 1973.

Most of my teaching activities have been in the Vancouver area. Also, I taught in Victoria for a period in 1981. In Vancouver, I worked full-time for four months in 1978 teaching TM in our "Creating An Ideal Society" campaign. In 1983-1984 I worked for a year at our National TM Capital in Huntsville, Ontario. Along the way I have combined my hairdressing career with teaching TM. I am still working as a hairdresser.

During most of my life I have been known as "Robyn", which is actually my middle name. In 2007 I switched to using my legal first name of "Laurie." Other interests include: reading, yoga, aerobics, strength training, conversations.

Michael Beresford

Michael Beresford learned TM in 1979 while studying for his BSc degree in Mathermatics & Computer Science at the University of Reading in England. Following graduation he worked for Maharishi European Research University in Switzerland where he was lucky enough to spend a considerable amount of time in close contact with Maharishi. During that time he helped to develop the first computer system that analysed EEG (brainwave) coherence in real time. He also conducted several scientific studies on TM and EEG Coherence which were published in TM Collected Papers research volumes. In 1984, Michael became a teacher of Transcendental Meditation and returned to his home in Cardiff, Wales. Michael taught TM full time in Wales for the next 10 years and instructed over 3,500 people. He also served as the National Director for TM in Wales during that time.

In 1994 Michael moved to Vancouver where he continues to teach TM on a part time basis. In 1995 he established a manufacturing company called Moor Spa Inc which produces 100% natural skin and body care products for the worldwide spa industry. Moor Spa is now available in over 20 countries and in some of the finest luxury spas in the world. Michael continues to run this company while helping to support the local TM community.

Joseph Shannon

Joseph Shannon learned TM in 1970 along with many of his close relatives. Soon after, he took TM teacher training in 1972 at Humboldt State College, where he spent a month in residence with Maharishi. He then spent six months Calla Millor, Majorca, Spain and Fiuggi, Italy. Upon returning home, Joseph taught TM all over British Columbia: in the Okanagan, the Kootenays, Prince Rupert, White Rock, Surrey and Vancouver. He also taught in Sante Fe, New Mexico between 1973 and 1974.

Joseph is a member of the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC). He graduated from the Building Technology program at BCIT, Burnaby in 1988. He practiced Architectural design in Architectural and Engineering offices in the Vancouver Metro area since 1988. Also, he was a part time technical consultant for "Building Envelope" architectural projects in the Vancouver area.

Joseph is a Metis citizen, and a member of various local and provincial Metis and First Nations aboriginal organizations; also a member of a local Metis dance group. He

looks forward to teaching TM in the BC Interior and to aboriginal communities in BC.

Olga Cambell

Olga Campbell, from Vancouver, started meditating in 1967. She became a teacher of Transcendental Meditation in India in 1970. Olga got her Masters of Social Work in1967 and worked for many years as a social worker. She also went to art school in Vancouver and received a BFA in 1993. Art is her passion. She has been doing sculpture, mixed media, photography and digital prints for the past twenty years. Olga attended the recertification course for TM teachers in the summer of 2013 and is now teaching TM again in the Vancouver Centre.

Nancy Stewart

Nancy Malcolm Stewart began her professional career as a Certified Orthoptist in 1952, treating patients with eyesight problems. She went on to own a practice in 1963. However, in 1968 her passion for teaching began to develop and she attended the University of British Columbia, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Education. She then began teaching, specializing in primary and art education until she retired 1990. Nancy believes her best achievement to be her students' artwork, which was often displayed at the Richmond Art Gallery to considerable acclaim.

In 1965, Nancy learned the concept of TM from an Orthoptic patient who referred her to a TM teacher. Within two weeks she learned, gaining wonderful benefits. This was when TM was first being introduced to Canada and the western world. She soon made her home available for individual TM instructions and group meditations. She went on to become a TM Teacher in 1976. She worked both as a TM teacher and school teacher until she retired from school teaching in 1990. In 1978, she worked on the Ideal Society Campaign. In 2003, she reached out to the school principals of Richmond, BC, defining the benefits TM would offer their students. In 2008, she taught TM to several special education teachers at a school for children with learning disabilities.

Nancy, a Vancouverite for all her life, continues her TM teaching and acrylic painting.

Rich van Schaik

Rich van Schaik has taught the TM programme to thousands of people in 31 countries. He studied with Maharishi in India and took personal training in TM and Ayurveda from him. Rich has led hundreds of courses for people from many backgrounds, including students, seniors, children with autism, and the homeless. He has also taught in corporate settings, including at Microsoft and at Radical Software. He has been a full-time TM teacher for over 20 years.

Deboragh Varnel

Deboragh Varnel learned Transcendental Meditation at 16 years old and became a TM teacher in 1984. She taught TM in Toronto for many years, and is currently teaching TM in Vancouver to health professionals, business executives, teachers, students, first responders and women's groups to name a few.

Deboragh holds a BA in Recreation Therapy and Management from Concordia University in Montreal. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of World Peace Studies for her forty years of research and study in the development of human consciousness.

Deboragh worked as a program coordinator for private recreation facilities in Montreal and as a social director in a Calgary nursing home. She was project manager in a Toronto Bay St. financial firm specializing in theme park development, mining and project finance. She is President of AV Royal Consulting, a Vancouver based consulting firm.

Deboragh is an abstract artist, ayur vedic cook and has practiced hatha yoga for over 32 years. She also enjoys cross country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, cycling and swimming.

William Ayling

William Ayling became interested in meditation self development and enlightenment at the age of 8 years old. He started Transcendental Meditation in 1970. He became a teacher of TM in 1972, and has been teaching TM ever since.

He has taught TM in the military, education, business, health care, rehabilitation, government and the general public. He has taught in India, Nepal, Philippines, Europe, USA, and throughout Canada. He is now teaching TM in his home town of Vancouver BC.

He has served as department head and on the board of directors of an international health product company, has worked in project finance for a land developer, and is the CEO of the Vancouver Based company AV Royal Consulting.

In 2005 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in recognition of his years of work and research in Vedic Science and modern science, and the development of consciousness

MEDITATORS' MEETINGS: Are held regularly - please contact us for full schedule.PERSONAL CHECKING: To refresh your practice and receive more guidance on your TM technique, these one-to-one 30 minute sessions are available by appointment.REFRESHER COURSES: If you would like to refresh your practice and understanding of Transcendental Meditation, why not sit in again on a course of instruction? Phone or email for details.